Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun has said that Nigeria and other members of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCTA), stand to gain immensely from the Agreement in the area of employment, wealth generation, food security and poverty alleviation and improve standard of living.

Governor Abiodun stated this in Abeokuta at the 36th Annual General Meeting of the Manufacturer Association of Nigeria (MAN), Ogun State branch, however stressed the need for critical stakeholders in different African countries to come together to appraise and review its process.

He said the production base of the nation has continued to expand and  government was harnessing the potentials of the manufacturing Sector towards improving its policy formulations and programmes to internalize and mainstream African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCTA) into Nigeria’s Economic Development Plan.

 The governor opined that AfCTA comes with immense benefits to member Nations, but however noted that it was important that critical stakeholders in different African countries also come together to appraise and review the process.

He said the Meeting, with the theme, " The African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement And Nigeria Manufacturing Sector- Maximizing The  Gains; Mitigating The Draw backs",  is an important platform for a cross- fertilization of ideas for the development of the manufacturing Sector which is the redeeming feature for the Nation’s economic survival. 

He maintained that the State with its huge potentials, has put in place policies and programmes for ease of Doing Business, like the Business Environment Council, Ogun State Land Administration and Revenue Management System (OLARMS), while industrial parks are being established, to make the State more attractive, calling investors to take advantage of these and invest in the State.